A tender goodbye: US ship deploys to Libyan waters

Petty Officer Third Class David Weir kisses his wife, Jessica, and son Cody as he prepares to deploy on the USS Bataan on Wednesday, March 23, from Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Va.

Paul J. Richards / AFP - Getty Images

US sailors man the rails as the USS Batann, the lead ship in the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, pulls out of the Norfolk, Virgina, US Naval Base on Wednesday, enroute to waters off Libya.

Paul J. Richards / AFP - Getty Images

Two unidentified US Navy sailors aboard the USS Batann, wave shortly before the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group pulls out of the Norfolk, Virgina, US Naval Base on Wednesday.

According to the AP, the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is deploying to the Mediterranean Sea to aid international efforts in Libya. The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group is made up of the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde and the dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island. The ships will transport Marines, a combat helicopter squadron and a team of surgeons. The group will be relieving units from the USS Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group.